On 2-3 October, ICMPD Director General, Mr. Michael Spindelegger, embarked on a mission to Ankara, Türkiye. This visit involved a series of productive meetings and engagements designed to promote cooperation and tackle key issues.
On the 2nd of October, Mr. Spindelegger initiated his visit with a meeting with Mr. Atilla Toros, President of the Presidency of Migration Management of Türkiye. The discussion centred on topics such as Irregular Migration, Countries of Origin (CoO), Border management, and potential areas of cooperation in these fields. Moreover, as part of gaining practical insights, visits were made to the Presidency of Migration Management's Temporary Protection Service Centre in Mamak, underscoring the importance of learning from best practices in migration management within Türkiye.
Director General Spindelegger also engaged in a high-level meeting with Mr. Hakan Fidan, Minister of Foreign Affairs. The discussions revolved around regional developments, including Türkiye's collaborative efforts with the EU on migration-related matters.
On the same day, Mr. Spindelegger met with Ambassador Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut, the Head of the EU Delegation. The conversations during this meeting focused on irregular migration, EU- Türkiye relations, and areas of potential collaboration. This visit reiterated the commitment to addressing migration issues through enhanced cooperation and constructive dialogue.
In the final meeting of his mission, Mr. Michael Spindelegger expressed gratitude to Mr. Fuat Oktay, the President of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Grand National Assembly, for Türkiye s chairmanship of the ICMPD Steering Group in 2023. During this meeting, discussions centred on the Seat Agreement, signed in December 2022, which marked a significant milestone in the already robust and enduring cooperation between ICMPD and Türkiye. This cooperation has been further solidified since Türkiye became an ICMPD Member State in 2018.
In addition to these scheduled appointments, Mr. Michael Spindelegger also paid a visit to the ICMPD Ankara Office. During this visit, he conducted a comprehensive all-staff meeting, engaging in a meaningful dialogue with the entire personnel. This visit exemplified ICMPD's commitment to nurturing internal collaboration and ensuring that the whole team remains aligned with the organisation's mission and goals.
ICMPD remains dedicated to fostering cooperation and addressing migration challenges, and the visit of Director General Mr. Michael Spindelegger to Türkiye in October 2023 exemplified the organisation's commitment to these objectives.